Red Flag Warning Issued: Strong Winds Prompt CAL FIRE to Increase Staffing

Friday, May 31, 2013

Red Flag Warning Issued: Strong Winds Prompt CAL FIRE to Increase Staffing

CAL FIRE NEWS RELEASE

Strong Winds Prompt CAL FIRE to Increase Staffing Red Flag Warning Issued; Public Urged to be Cautious

Sacramento – With dry winds forecast for many parts of Northern California, CAL FIRE hasincreased its staffing and is urging the public to be extra cautious due to the heightened fire
danger. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning stretching form Shasta County down through the Sacramento Valley to San Joaquin County starting Friday morning for high winds and low humidity lasting through Saturday evening.

“Even with some recent rain in Northern California, conditions remain much drier than normal for this time of year,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director. “We have extra firefighters and equipment available to respond to new wildfires, but now especially is when we need the public’s help in preventing accidental wildfires.”

Since January 1 CAL FIRE has responded to nearly 1,900 wildfires across California that have burned approximately 45,000 acres. In an average year for the same time period, CAL FIRE typically responds to about 990 fires that burn around 7,700 acres. The significantly dry
conditions are a major factor in the 90 percent increase in fire activity.

During the Red Flag Warning CAL FIRE urges all Californians to exercise extreme caution
outdoors in order to prevent a wildfires.

A few helpful reminders and fire prevention tips include:

Don’t mow or weed eat dry grass on windy days
Ensure campfires are allowed, and if so, be sure to extinguish them completely
Target shoot only in approved areas, use lead ammunition only, and never at metal targets
Be extra careful with all powered equipment outdoors including chainsaws, tractors and welders
Never burn landscape debris like leaves or branches on NO Burn Days or when its windy

The public is also encouraged to review “Ready, Set, Go” procedures when it comes to preparing for a wildfire at www.ReadyForWildfire.org.

For more ways to help prevent and prepare for wildfires: ReadyForWildfire.org or fire.ca.gov

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CFN - California Fire News 2013

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Friday, May 31, 2013